During the past few decades many dubious companies set up business in Dimapur and other districts and after running for sometime, folded up leaving many customers who lost several thousand rupees each for the dubious schemes. The catchword that never failed to ensnare “ small investment, big returns” had lured even those considered intelligent into opening deposits with attractive yet unrealistic promises.
Though many had been cheated, among the most notorious being the “2000 Money Scheme” during the late eighties to the mid-90s ; yet more people are still willing to fall for the same trick but with different names.
Though information had been known by this newspaper, it could not be reported in view of the investigations by police on another cheating scheme sold under the name of “Pride –the Shan of the North East”.
Following complaints lodged by customers, Dimapur Police arrested the functionary of the company (M/s Pride) on January 19 for duping nearly 500 people from Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung to the tune of around Rs 19 lakh. However, the list could be much more than 500 sources said.
Police registered the FIR on January 16 on a complaint filed by three persons on behalf of 113 other complainants who named one Shivaji Malakar, an employee of the company that had duped them then abruptly closed its offices in Dimapur. Acting on the report, a team was dispatched to Guwahati and on January 19, the main conduit of the scheme- Shivaji Malakar –was arrested.
Pride-the Shaan of the North East as it the company was called, lured people with dreams of fantastic return for investments through their units. For instance, if a person bought Unit- I by investing Rs.3800, it was supposed to increase every month and by the end of the year, it was supposed to yield a total dividend of Rs. 4,91,400.
The company’s highest unit amounting to Rs.30,400 promised a yield of Rs.39,31,200 for the depositor by the end of one year.
Attractive gifts were offered to those who brought certain number of customers such as Nokia mobile (Black & White) for one customer, a color mobile plus Dubai tour and attractive incentives including Honda CRVs etc for certain number of customers. Malakar, was born and brought up in Kohima and also married to Naga lady. Police said that he was running the racket along with his two brothers-in-law, namely Anshul Goyal and Biswajit Gosh alias Kocha, both of who were still absconding till the time of filing this report. It may be noted that the accused was also earlier involved in another company ‘Kamal Jyoti’ which had also closed down. Malakar along with his brothers-in-law duped the victims by closing down the company, four months after it was opened.
Interestingly, the accused had even printed a copy of trade license issued from Guwahati with his name mentioned along with Rajesh Goyal, Ashul Goyal and his elder brother Pinaki Malakar, to make it look more authentic. Police were yet to confirm whether the license was a fake or not. Interestingly, the accused’s elder brother Pinaki Malakar had taken anticipatory bail from the court of Additional District & Session’s Judge, Dimapur, even though his name did not figure in the FIR.
The duped customers had done much homework thereby making police investigation easier. Unfortunately, most of the victims who are well placed, respected and intelligent fell for the oldest trick –greed that blinded their minds and clouded their judgments.